Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aces High General Discussion => Topic started by: halcyon on January 25, 2007, 09:16:02 PM
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Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I love this game.
It's one of the most realistic WW2 flight sims I've played. There is much balance in how all the aircraft perform and flight mechanics (aside from maybe some flaps issues I have with B-17's......).
However, there is a balance issue with the main arena...the free-for-all.
I know some people like FFA style of play, and that's cool, but I don't see Aces High 2 as being branded a "FFA" style game.
You (the HiTech team) have assembled a sim so realistic that even carborated planes such as the Spit I lose their engine if you dive too hard. But, your main focus seems to now be the main arena, or all 4 of them I should say.
That focus is becoming the FFA style of play. Every time I log on the late war arenas are the most populated, while there might be 20-40 in the mid and early war arenas.
And of course, the reason why the late war is always populated more is because people always want to fly the latest and greatest aircraft. That's fine really, I don't have a problem with that. What I am tired of though is constantly going up against LA7's, Typhoons, P-51's, N1Ks....all at once. There's no seperation or limitation of what kind of aircraft your country can fly.
Fockewulf 190's flying next to B-17 bombers? Zeros flying cover for P-47D-40s?
Is this really balance? Is this what you guys at HiTech really intended the game to be all about?
I know there are Axis vs Allies and Special Events arenas, and trust me I prefer those arenas at least 100x over the dreaded 'MA' any day of the week.
The problem is that not enough people want to play on Axis 'n Allies, and there are only so many special events in a week.
When I get home from work after a long day, I want to be able to take American aircraft up against German or Japanese aircraft...not other American aircraft. I want to be able to fly 109F-4s against some F4U-1As, not against C202s or Ju87s.
I know this is getting long so I'll wrap it up. All I'm really saying is that I think that if you went the extra mile to make such a realistic game that you have, what's stopping you from going the extra distance and restricting the main arenas to have country specific aircraft?
Are you guys afraid you'll lose your playerbase by making the aircraft matchups realistic also on a larger scale?
Just my 2 cents after coming home from work.
I was thinking about it on the drive home and decided to say something.
Okay, I'm done. :)
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Originally posted by halcyon
I want to be able to fly 109F-4s against some F4U-1As, not against C202s or Ju87s.
I know this might be a silly question...but, have you ever thought of flying in EW? The matchups you are talking about happen there nearly every night....and there are NO La7's. :)
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Originally posted by NoBaddy
I know this might be a silly question...but, have you ever thought of flying in EW? The matchups you are talking about happen there nearly every night....and there are NO La7's. :)
Sadly EW isn't nearly as populated as it needs to be to accomodate the size of the maps that server runs.
I can't imagine having fun when there are only about 10-15 people per country on a map made for at least 200.
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Originally posted by halcyon
Sadly EW isn't nearly as populated as it needs to be to accomodate the size of the maps that server runs.
I can't imagine having fun when there are only about 10-15 people per country on a map made for at least 200.
Guess that rules out the AvA for you too. :(
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Originally posted by E25280
Guess that rules out the AvA for you too. :(
It doesn't rule that arena out for me.
If people played there I would too.
Honestly, when is the last time you saw AvA populated?
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Originally posted by halcyon
It doesn't rule that arena out for me.
If people played there I would too.
Honestly, when is the last time you saw AvA populated?
When the Main Arenas were down :lol
Gotta admit though, playing in AvA that night was a blast...
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Halcyon, I'm gonna chip in a word of advice...Be careful on these boards.
This subject (especially the endless LA-7/Spit16 horde's) has been beat more than even a dead horse deserves.
I noticed that you've only been posting since August...You might not know about it, but there's a search function that keeps you from punting an old topic.
P.S. I'm not trying to be disrespectful, But I know plenty of others who would not show any restraint in pointing these things out, and take every opputunity to belittle you as much as they can.
P.S.-P.S. Also, check out the scenarios, snapshots, and squad events in the S.E.A.(Special Events Arena). They are a blast, I can tell you(Having once been top scoring pilot for my squad in a BoB "Eagle Day" Event).
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Originally posted by halcyon
It doesn't rule that arena out for me.
If people played there I would too.
Honestly, when is the last time you saw AvA populated?
Depends on your idea of populated. In the AvA, few if any give a rip if they die or not, and base capture is meaningless (there is no "win the war" or perks.) Therefore, unlike the EW and MW arenas, if there are only 8 or 12 people on, you can bet they are all upping from two close bases having a nice little furball.
That is to say, whereas you have to search for opponents in the EW and MW, and then hope they don't run away, in the AvA just ask on 200 where the action is, and everyone will be there.
Even if it is only 8, it will feel populated enough. :aok
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Originally posted by halcyon
All I'm really saying is that I think that if you went the extra mile to make such a realistic game that you have, what's stopping you from going the extra distance and restricting the main arenas to have country specific aircraft?
Are you guys afraid you'll lose your playerbase by making the aircraft matchups realistic also on a larger scale?
Yep thats pretty much it ;)
Been there done that in Warbirds and it killed that game. I have to admit I liked it but it did cause a mass exodus over here to AH. Trust me it will open up a whole can of worms that HTC will not want to deal with. Just to many problems with side balancing and gameplay.
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Originally posted by halcyon
It doesn't rule that arena out for me.
If people played there I would too.
The problem being: Someone has to throw "the first stone"...
Everyone just saying "but noone else flies there" will just result in that!
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Originally posted by NoBaddy
I know this might be a silly question...but, have you ever thought of flying in EW? The matchups you are talking about happen there nearly every night....and there are NO La7's. :)
I stop in there everydy first because I love EW planes. You know how many people I see in the air? 4 is the most I have EVER SEEN. Force people in there, then suggest it ;)
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I'd drop into Mid War if the 1A was enabled there. Even as a light perk (date of entry to service it should be, based on other aircraft already active).
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Please dont start this crap up. Stay out of the Late war if you dont like it. Sorry, but I am finnally enjoying the game, and its working. You are speaking of an Areana called Axis vs Allies. And probable no one goes there, is because of the numbers. BUT HEY, Maybe if you continue to go there, and keep inviting people, it might catch on. All of the early war, and Mid war, may have what you may seek. Also plenty of outstanding fights there. alot more 1 on 1. The late war as far as Im concerned is stratagy. How to best be effective. My limitation is fighters, but Im learning. Slow but Learning.
Anyway please dont change a thing HT, thank you
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Originally posted by Saxman
I'd drop into Mid War if the 1A was enabled there. Even as a light perk (date of entry to service it should be, based on other aircraft already active).
F4U-1A with water injection entered late war (~1944)
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Early war arena should have small map and bases should be closer (15 miles apart)
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Originally posted by halcyon
Sadly EW isn't nearly as populated as it needs to be to accomodate the size of the maps that server runs.
I can't imagine having fun when there are only about 10-15 people per country on a map made for at least 200.
It sounds like you've never given it a chance.
I fly EW and MW (mostly EW) at least a couple of times a week. While sometimes you do have to search for a fight thats usually not the case. Usually because of the limited numbers the fight is easy to find. I've had some of my most fun days recently flying there. Besides that, there are some pretty decent pilots flying in those areanas and it's fun to keep going head to head with them.
It's also made me better in the EW planes, which I can now take up in the LW arenas and score multiple kills whereas i wouldn't have touched them before.
You really should give it a try.
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I would love to see the MA more realistic, but as HTC says, "becarefull for what you wish for". When i came to AH i was looking for WWII dogfight action. I found that in Combat Theatre, AVA,s previouse name. I did MA as well, but had the same response "WTF 3 chess pieces and FFA style gameplay". But MA isnt meant to be WWII. I think of it as modern day millionare pilots playing around in their WWII airplanes on crazy terrains drinking beer and blowing stuff up. Sometimes you get the feel your in WWII when you get a good fight between a zero and a p38 or something, and other times yo got to streatch your imagination a bit when fighting another plane from the same country, like an ace challenging another allied ace to see who is the real deal (which did happen historicaly).
Its defanantly wierd, but it seems to work. Combat Tour sounds like it will attempt to make Country warfare entertaining, i sure hope so!
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Halcyon,
I participated in a Snap Shot yesterday. The 2nd frame was a Spit 1 V 109E fight to the finish.
Without a doubt, the most fun I've had in a fighter in Aces High in a long time.
Regards,
hap
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Originally posted by Hap
Halcyon,
I participated in a Snap Shot yesterday. The 2nd frame was a Spit 1 V 109E fight to the finish.
Without a doubt, the most fun I've had in a fighter in Aces High in a long time.
Regards,
hap
I know I was there.
I also flew in the frame before that, and I also did the one on the 19th which was the 'defend Japan's coast' mission.
Before that I did the Alleutian Islands scenerio which was Japan's diversionary attack in preperation of Midway.
I'm not a stranger to the special events. Like I said, if I could do special events type stuff every single day I without a doubt would.
And to the poster that said I haven't tried early or mid war, yes I have. I've tried it and like I said, it's not fun playing 10 people per country on a map that's made for about 300.
I stand by everything I said. Make MA realistic please.
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Originally posted by halcyon
I stand by everything I said. Make MA realistic please.
In that case work with HTC to determine what their yearly nut plus profit will be for 2007 and the next 10 years. Then write HTC a check for that amount and you will have your own personal version of Aces High II to which you can invite all of us who got bumped in the interim to play with you by your very exacting rules of realism.....
But be warned we might charge you to come back and play with you......
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Originally posted by Serenity
I stop in there everydy first because I love EW planes. You know how many people I see in the air? 4 is the most I have EVER SEEN. Force people in there, then suggest it ;)
I fly MW and EW almost every night and there is way more than 4 people in the air at one time.
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Originally posted by halcyon
If people played there I would too.
As long as people maintain that attitude, EW will remain a low populated arena. Instead of demanding a change to suit you, how bout stepping up and making some changes yourself? :)
Serenity...
I don't have too many problems finding multi-bogie fights. Of course, I only rarely play the capture game and will switch to the lowest country to make sure there are plenty of targets.
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NB is spot on halcyon and as much as I hate to admit it Baldy is right too ;)
I fly probably 80% of my time in EWA. There may not look like big numbers in there but there are alot of fights, Probably more so with the Ndisles and Baltic maps. theres a new map I dont remember its name but not particularly a fun map for me. some nights are better than others thats true, but then I just go poking around in the MWA and LWA for awhile.
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few players sometimes equals good fights. I know that if airscrew is on (as an example) there will be at least one other player who doesn't give a rip about score and wants to fight. you can log onto the AvA and there could be just one other player on and you will often find yourself with a tough fight.
on the other hand if what you are looking for is people you can easily kill the AvA may or may not be your best choice.
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Originally posted by storch
on the other hand if what you are looking for is people you can easily kill the AvA may or may not be your best choice.
From 10-11 most week nights I'm in there, so you'll have at least ONE person to thump.
As the recent MA split seems to have proven (yet again), the overwhelming majority of players want to fly their favorite planes, and those planes are usually 1945 models. If your interests are in earlier periods, and ESPECIALLY if you are interested in historical match-ups, you have placed yourself in an ultra-minority position. You will probably never find an arena which contains large numbers of like-minded people. Welcome.
The good side to this already has been pointed out by others in this thread. Those who share your views typically are those who seek out air combat, don't care who wins the war, and equate rank with a bucket of warm spit. You'll have a lot of fun, in AvA, EW and/or MW, no matter that the numbers are low.
- oldman
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Originally posted by E25280
Even if it is only 8, it will feel populated enough. :aok
VERY true! In the AvA you'll find the most challenging fights. In the AvA, at least for me, it isn't about the score, or even landing the kills....it's the thrill of the fight.
Be careful though, many times I'm beginning to find more MA dweebs in there not knowing the unspoken rules of the AvA. (No hoes, no vulch, no dweebery) I don't get too upset with them...they are playing what they know...in time they'll grow up. :)
To me, the AvA is the gentleman's arena.
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I Will wash my airplane and bring my dweebery, along with my vulching,Hoing(if I have any money left),and and chute shooting, to the AVA. If there are any windows to shoot my BB gun at , Ill do that too. Maybe, Ill even drop drunks from a goon all over the field to let them run amok on the runways. Sounds like fun.
-SR-:O
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Originally posted by storch
few players sometimes equals good fights. I know that if airscrew is on (as an example) there will be at least one other player who doesn't give a rip about score and wants to fight.
Storch, Its all about the fun, especially on Ndisles, and the center island. I havent flown much this last week. All the bad weather the previous week was screwing with my connection and I was warping pretty bad, I think TimeWarner needs to come out and look at their equipment, everytime we get heavy rain my connection sucks. The few times I logged on were kinda hit and miss lately.